Glasgow 2014 CEO David Grevemberg has vowed "to protect the Commonwealth Games from being hijacked by either side of the Scottish independence debate," according to Alex Lowe of the LONDON TIMES. A referendum on Scotland's future in the U.K. will be held on Sept. 18 next year, "six weeks after the closing ceremony." Grevemberg has been pleased that all parties "have so far treated the Commonwealth Games as a protected property." Grevemberg is determined to ensure that neither the so-called "friendly games" nor the competing athletes become a political football in the debate. Grevemberg said, "We remind the general public that athletes are there to do one thing and to compete. They are not there to be used as political pawns. We are very strong in protecting that" (LONDON TIMES, 9/11).